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Unilever (NYSE: UL) is making a play to enlarge its presence in India. It has launched an open offer to buy out shareholders in that country's Hindustan Unilever for 600 rupees ($10.02) per share. The offer comes in force on June 21, and will end on July 4.

The consumer goods multinational currently holds nearly 52.5% of the company; this is an attempt to expand that stake up to 75%.

In the press release detailing its bid, the company stressed that an independent committee of Hindustan Unilever's board "has recommended that the Open Offer is fair and reasonable."

The bid is being co-managed by HSBC's Securities unit and local financial services provider Capital Markets (India) Private.

Hindustan Unilever currently trades at 593.3 rupees ($9.91) on India's National Stock Exchange.

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Eric has been writing about stocks and finance since the mid-1990s, when he lived in Prague, Czech Republic. Over the course of a varied career, he has also been a radio newscaster, an investment banker, and a bass player in a selection of rock and roll bands. A native New Yorker, he currently lives in Los Angeles.